Lingstudion

"Clergy" 6" x 9" Mixed Media Drawing on Antique Dictionary Page I have been asked repeatedly to create a page to honor ministers.  I learned long ago that I've got to limit and carefully edit the images I draw due to the business of the dictionary text already on the page so creating something with too much detail really muddies up the drawing - creating a book page with loads of text does just that. I've challenged myself to create a page using a religious text and think this one works well.  I love the definition of Clergy found on this page that describes the vocation as one who guides us in a healthy spiritual journey.  I stewed about what images to use and decided eyeglasses for seeing clearly, a magnifying glass representing close study and examination, a pen for writing and communicating insight and a pocket watch to symbolize the dedication of a pastor's time in service to his congregation.  I have to admit that I omitted a cross or other symbols...

"E is for Elephant Exercising in an Elevator" 8.5" x 11" Mixed Media Drawing on a Children's Antique Dictionary I'm having a ball building an alphabet of illustrations on this precious, children's dictionary.  What I am enjoying most is that I can be silly and totally inventive with these drawings.  In this case, my happy elephant can be any color I want and even dressed in workout clothes. I hope to reproduce this series in small cards when I am finished.

I included information about my process of working on antique dictionary pages on my blog a long time ago - it all begins with a sepia ink drawing on the page.  I have always loved to draw so this stage is my favorite. I believe these ink drawings could stand alone without adding any color but I continue to paint each piece to have a unified series of my work.   One of the challenges of this stage in my work is composing my drawing around the definition on the page.  A lot depends on the placement of the definition - if it is high, left or right or smack-dab in the center of the page.  I particularly love finding an illustration already on the page to feature inside or around my drawing. I think drawing skills are essential to creating all kinds of arts whether it be painting or sculpture or what have you.  I emphasize it in my classroom and have developed a curriculum that can teach anyone to draw.  I rely heavily on the art teacher's Bible "Drawing on the...

"Flower " Mixed Media Drawing on Antique Parchment 18" x 24" I have loved working on large pages.  Thanks to a wonderful friend who works at a local print shop, I can work on these 18" x 24" old sheets of fragile parchment that she has carefully digitized with a page from one of my dictionaries. I got very nostalgic working on this collection of flowers.  Many of the flowers I chose for this piece have significance particularly to the memory of my mother.  She grew up in Kansas and always referred to herself as a sunflower.  She loved to garden but always had an uphill battle to get anything to last in the strong prairie winds with little to no rain. For this piece I included lilacs which grew around our farmhouse, heavenly blue morning glories which covered our white picket pence in the backyard.  I had to include a group of wild roses to remember the roses my grandmother brought in a covered wagon to plant on our homestead - they still grow there.  I als...

Spending an afternoon in my happy, little studio I love looking at other artist's blogs and websites.  I envy all the inventive layouts and bells and whistles that most of these creative sites have.  I have tried to "gussy up" my blog but sadly, I lack the digital know-how to do much more than follow the established templates.  Anytime I try to jazz things up and do something different, I lose patience and go back to the tried and true look my blog has had since the beginning. I appreciate everyone who stops by for a look or to leave a comment.  I am still blown away that my work is noticed by folks across the globe and I am extremely grateful for your attention. I have been ridiculously busy the past few months and have ignored posting but I'm back in my studio building lots of new pieces and I'm looking forward to sharing - even if my site doesn't have interactive video highlights with push button podcasts and digital workshops options. 

I just completed one of my biggest art shows of the year.  This show is in my  home state but still requires a 5 1/2 hour drive from my house.  The Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts celebrated 50 years and it is one of the best shows I have ever participated in.  The show features 144 artists from around the country.  I have been honored to show there for the past three years. One of the challenges of doing this terrific show is that it is 6 days long and each day starts in the morning and doesn't end until 9:00 in the evening.  That means being outside regardless of the weather - rain or shine - and being bright and shiny for each and every customer. The crowds are huge and thousands of people attend each year.  The artists are amazing and the food - oh my the food.  The food vendors for this show are not the typical corn dog and kettle corn found at most art shows.  The food vendors for this show have everything from lobster sliders to str...